Viva Las Vegas!

by Amanda Stutevoss
Editor in Chief

One-dollar margaritas, 99 cent Heinekens, foot long hot dogs at five o'clock in the morning, shrimp cocktail, male strippers, blackjack, craps, poker, rock stars and homeless, toothless people - where in the world can you find all these things in one place?

Viva Las Vegas!

As I stood on Las Vegas Boulevard at five o'clock in the morning Friday night (a little tipsy - those 99 cent Heinekens really got me), I started to realize the fabulous things about the City of Sin that I have often overlooked.

I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my personal top ten reasons to visit Las Vegas.

Disclaimer: My top 10 may be slightly biased due to the fact that I am a broke college student who is easy to please, and the fact that I am female.

10. The Bellagio's Water Show. Hello? It is free and not to mention entertaining. It is a must if you are planning on visiting Vegas.

9. Buffets. Everywhere you turn in Las Vegas you see giant billboards and signs for 99 cent breakfast buffets, prime rib buffets for $6.99 and, not to mention, the grandiose buffets that cost an arm and a leg but promise treats from across the globe all topped off with chocolate covered strawberries.

8. Lounges. Where else can you see Elvis impersonators and magic shows on the same stage?

The red carpet and sling back red leather chairs usually seat the lowest of losers and those too drunk to stand. That in itself is what I call entertainment.

7. Open Beverage Policy. I love being able to walk from one casino to the next without having to chug my drink.

The streets of Las Vegas are like mini clubs, people socializing, people who can't speak English passing out flyers for prostitutes and whorehouses.

That is the spirit of Las Vegas.

6. The Manhattan Express. Forget Disneyland.

You can go to Las Vegas and substitute churros for steak and lobster, mouse ears for halter tops and Dumbo kiddy rides for a roller coaster that promises the most spills and thrills, only at the New York, New York's Hotel and Casino.

And it is only $12 a ride.

Did I say only?

5. Siegfried and Roy. White tigers, accents and great tans, they are the epitome of Las Vegas.

4. No Clocks. Who wants to know what time it is? You are in Vegas. Time is unimportant, there are 24 hours in a day - use them wisely.

3. Ching, Ching. When you walk into a casino, there are many sounds that you may encounter.

Yelling from the craps tables and happy screams from slot machine winners are amongst the fun ones. But the best sound is that sound of coins hitting the metal pan after cashing out.

Whether they are nickels, quarters or dollars, it is still exciting.

2. The Thunder from Down Under. For my twenty-first birthday I went to see the show The Thunder from Down Under at the Excalibur.

For $32, you get an hour and a half of sensational breathtaking Australian eye candy.

A cabaret atmosphere with women ready to mingle with some of the best looking men I have ever seen in my entire life.

Yes, they dance, they sway their hips, and tease the audience by slowly revealing more and more of their god-like bodies.

Australian men half-naked, where could you possibly go wrong? You can't, I promise.

1. Free Drinks. Enough said.

Amanda Stutevoss, a senior broadcasting and journalism major, is editor in chief of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at astute4@aol.com.